Opposition Leader John Briceño Disagrees with Composition Outlined by Cabinet

As we told the composition of the Senate Select Committee is already coming under fire. The Opposition says it is not for the executive to dictate the composition of the Committee. This afternoon, we spoke with P.U.P. Leader John Briceño via telephone from Houston, Texas, where he is currently on personal business. Briceño told us that the government does not want a fair, open and transparent investigation and so they are attempting to control the process. But in comparison with the calls in 2004 by then-Opposition Leader Dean Barrow and Godwin Hulse for the Senate Committee on Social Security not to have a Government majority, Briceño has this question for both men now: what has changed?

On the Phone: John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition

“So my question is to the Prime Minister, and to Minister Hulse: what has changed since 2004 to 2016? Why are they changing their tune? Why is it that they now are finding any which way to prevent an open and transparent investigation into the criminal activity into their government? Do they have something to hide? That is the question that Belizeans are asking.”

Reporter

“So, for the record, you do not agree with the composition that has been proposed by the Government?”

On the Phone: John Briceño

“No, we do not agree to it. We believe that a precedent has been set in 2004, and if it was good for Mr. Barrow and Mr. Hulse in 2004, it should be good for them in 2016, unless if they are hiding something. What are they afraid of? They need to have an open and transparent investigation into the criminal activities that have taken place in the Department of Immigration.”